EFFECTS OF LIGHTING COLORS AND LITTER TYPE ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE STATUS OF BROILERS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 2Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture at Moshtohor, Benha University, Egypt

2 Animal Production Dept., Fac. of Agric., Benha Univ., Egypt.

3 Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Egypt

Abstract

This study was performed to study the effects of lighting colors and litter type on growth performance, blood parameters and digestive enzyme activity of broiler chickens. A total number of 336 unsexed hatched chicks (broilers, Indian River IR) were used for 5 weeks. Chicks were allocated in four lighting color: White (WC), Blue (BC), Green (GC), Mixed (BC × GC) light colors. Each color group was further divided in two litter type (sand (SL) and wood shavings (WL)). Chicks of each group were distributed into three replicates. The obtained results revealed that the lighting colors and litter type significantly affected on final body weight and weight gain. Highly significant (P<0.01) increase in body weight and body weight gain were observed in chicks reared under W color WC and SL litter type. Chicks reared on SL litter type showed significantly the highest average of FC, but the lowest values were recorded in WL litter type. Mortality rate during all period (1-35 day) was not significantly affected by lighting colors. The highest value of digestive enzymes activity (DEA) were observed in GC light group while; the lowest values were recorded in group of WC light. Significant interaction effects (P<0.001) were found in plasma lipid profile. It can be concluded that using white and green light color with sand litter could improve growth performance, blood parameters and digestive enzyme activity in broilers chickens.

Keywords

Egyptian Poultry Science Journal
Volume 34, Issue 1
March 2014
Pages 489-504

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